Ellen Pompeo: 'The Emmys felt so dated to me'

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
— Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
/ Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)— Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
/ Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)— Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
/ Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)— Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

Best known for playing the lead role, Meredith Grey, in the ABC Network drama series, "Grey's Anatomy," American actress Ellen Pompeo poses for a portrait in celebration of the upcoming 200th episode, on Monday, Sept. 23, 2013, in New York. The tenth season premieres on Thursday. (Photo by Amy Sussman/Invision/AP)
/ Amy Sussman/Invision/AP

"I didn't see any diversity in the Emmys at all. The Emmys felt so dated to me," she said in an interview Monday. "That dance number was embarrassing. Did you see one person of color in that dance number?"

A few others criticized the Emmys on the same point, though there were minorities represented, including Diahann Carroll, the first black person ever nominated for an Emmy; she paid tribute to "Scandal's" Kerry Washington, who was by her side. Washington was nominated for best actress in a drama, and had she won, she would have been the first African-American to win the trophy; instead, it went to Claire Danes, star of "Homeland."

"Grey's Anatomy" is one of the more diverse shows on television, which Pompeo says is one of her favorite things about the series, which debuts its 10th season on ABC on Thursday.

"I'm extremely proud of our very, very diverse cast which represents the world that I walk around in every day," she said.